AusLeisure

The BSc Energy Aqua Rugby Festival, Australia’s only floating rugby tournament, is returning in 2024 to a new location at Sydney’s Darling Harbour.

The third season of the three-day rugby tournament will take place on a 30 x 30 metre floating pontoon, on Darling Harbour from Thursday 11th to Saturday 13th April.

Throughout the festivities, Sydneysiders can expect to see a star-studded lineup of players diving off of the floating pitch and into the Sydney Harbour, with “crash-tackles off of the pitch all in the attempt to score a try in this quirky version of the sport Australians know and love, Rugby.”

Aqua Rugby players are selected by renowned coaches and managers.The tournament includes both a Women’s and Men’s competition each day, with an exciting Waratahs Greats v League Legends game among the matches. Over the weekend, there will also be teams playing that celebrate culture and diversity, including NZ Māori, Australian Army, NSW Country v NSW City and the Lloyd Mcdermott First Nations Rugby Side.

This year, the BSc Energy Aqua Rugby Festival has a number of ticketed experiences available for those wanting to be in and among the hustle and bustle of the festival. For those wanting to be in the thick of the party zone, guests have the chance to enjoy the matches from behind the posts, in The Party Pontoon, hosted by the legends at Better Beer and Budgy Smuggler. Starting from $65 per person, guests will experience the weekend in a floating festival with a variety of DJs and bars, all from a dedicated pontoon behind the posts with a great view of the action.

As part of the new Darling Harbour location, the public will be able to access the festival for free, meaning no one will miss out on the action with views from the big screen and harbour front.

Also on offer is a dedicated VIP area, sponsored by Bollinger Champagne, offering attendees the chance to book a group of 10 or 20 into their very own floating private cabana. For $440 per person, the VIP cabana will come with its very own exclusive bar and a dedicated staff member bringing guests all-inclusive food, courtesy of Nick’s Seafood, and drinks throughout the day. There’s even the chance to rub shoulders with Rugby greats, such as Wendell Sailor, Bernard Foley, Drew Mitchell and many more who will be floating around the exclusive Bollinger VIP area.

Back in 2020, the concept of Aqua Rugby came about when Wallaby Bernard Foley, Aqua Rugby Chief Executive and co-founder Jimmy Galvin started chatting at their local pub.

Galvin shared “we wanted to combine our love for Rugby with a new modern format, bringing a new fresh feel to the sport in the hopes to engage a new audience into the world of Rugby.

“After some amazing events in Manly, we were keen to try a new location where Aqua Rugby can be more accessible to people across Sydney, so Darling Harbour will offer an iconic and central new location for the tournament, to a truly diverse audience.

“We’re thrilled to have our new sponsor BSc Energy on board this year as naming rights partners. We are looking forward to seeing their Players Zone come to life & for Body science to provide our players & guests with some of their epic recovery & energy products across the festival.”

Book tickets at AquaRugby.Com or direct through the Aqua Rugby Eventbrite page:

For more information on the tournament, visit aquarugy.com.

Image top: render of event at new Darling Harbour location; Images centre and above Aqua Rugby 2022 at Manly Cove. Credit Karen Watson 

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